Consider Dumpster Diving To Furnish Your New Home

Nov 12, 2009

Well, maybe that is a big first step. But it is true indeed that one persons junk is another persons’ treasure.
A few years ago, we had a yard sale and among other things, there was an old iron bed headboard. The lady who bought it told me she was going to give it a fresh coat of black paint and it would become a garden gate. What a great idea!

Now, I am the least creative person I know when it comes to decorating ideas. If it weren’t for my friends, I can’t imagine what our home might look like. But somehow over the years, we’ve been able to create a nest that we think is cozy and beautiful without spending much. Believe it or not, after over 30 years of home ownership, we don’t own any new furniture. Even our bed was a wedding gift! Recently it occurred to be that the golden pine cannonballs were very “retro” now but in need of some updating. Rather than buy our first bed, we shipped it off for refinishing (with VOC-free paint of course) and voila – the now linen-cream coloured posts and frame look new and chic.

We had an old chair that was SOOOO comfy but sadly, the stuffing didn’t survive our kids teen years. Rather than cart if off to become land-fill, we had it recovered and it’s gorgeous if I say so myself. We splurged on exquisite quality upholstery when Three Herons had a sale on downtown and now, it sits proudly in our living room as a focal point of the room.

We have a lamp made out of an old knitting spool. In one house I sold, the headboard of their frameless bed was made of a piece of driftwood with small glass vases affixed for dried flowers. I’ve seen framed children’s art that look like gallery pieces.

When it comes to home decorating, I’m trying harder to see what I can alter, reclaim, adapt and reuse before rushing out to buy new. How about you?

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Marg Scheben-Edey is a Broker with RE/MAX four seasons realty limited, Brokerage in beautiful Collingwood, ON. With three decades of experience, Marg is a leader in the local real estate marketplace and is ready to help guide both Buyers and Sellers in achieving their real estate goals. Email Marg

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